Thank you Netgalley and Putnam for an ARC of Monoghan's newest novel, " Summer Romance". She has become a new favorite summer author of mine, and her books always make me feel like I need to be poolside to enjoy. Her newest novel focuses on Ali, a woman who is still struggling with the death of her mother who was her best friend, as well as the demise of her marriage. She finally puts herself back in the dating pool, and accidentally falls for her best friends brother who she hasn't seen in years. This book was super cute , but it was pretty predictable. However, I still enjoyed it and related to the loss the main character feels by missing her mom.

The romance at the heart of Summer Romance is terrific, but the true beauty of this book is the depiction of a woman learning to embrace joy in the aftermath of loss. I loved the characters, the setting, and the way the story unfolds. A must read for summer!

Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan was such an adorable romance that took place in small towns of Michigan. This featured a fun twist of two couples' exes dating each other. There were cute dates, should I or shouldn't I moments, a great mother daughter duo even though her mother is no longer with her.
Totally enjoyed this one and perfect for a good summer read!!

5/5 - Hits the heart, this one. Monahan is the queen of the realistic and relatable. Her characters are so dimensional and developed, that you know even the tiniest nuances about them, from the seemingly mundane quirks to their deepest inner insecurities. But what I especially loved about this story is it’s so personal and intimate. It’s everyday life, and that, to me, was like a big hug. There’s more to it - love and loss, for sure - but Monahan’s thoughtful approach to re-evaluating life in your late thirties made me think and feel, more than anything explosive or scandalous could do.

As a reader I really enjoyed getting to know Ali, having a front row seat to her life and how it feels to navigate the messy, mundane, magical world of parenthood, adulthood and grief. What happens when you’ve been plugging away, taking the next expected step after step in some vaguely standard plan, without ever really looking at where you’re going and why? What happens when the plan changes and you have time to stop and think? When Ali finally has a moment to breathe, she realizes she’s lost her way and herself too. Through a chance encounter with someone from her past, Ali stumbles into a perfectly timed summer romance, and starts to find pieces of herself and a life she never imagined.

This was wonderful. I know some or all of Ali’s story will resonate with so many! Thank you @netgalley, Putnam and Annabel Monaghan for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! Out now!

I absolutely loved this book! Annabel has such a way with romance and it's addicting. The fact that her couples are older is so great because it gives hope to those of us who haven't found our match in our twenties. They promote second chance romances for the female characters. The chemistry between Ali and Ethan is seen right away and I loved the way we got to see Ali move on from her ex-husband and truly live the life that she wants for herself.

Annabel Monaghan books scream summer for me, so what better than a book literally titled: Summer Romance. This book of a woman getting her groove back after several kinds of loss totally captivated me. And, Ethan is a perfect male lead. This is one to pick up after you've watched and reread The Idea of You.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

First thought: I really enjoyed this one, I loved Ethan and Ali. I just wished this was in Dual POV, that’s my only critique. This book is the epitome of a perfect summer romance and wishing for summer to never end. It’s a great add to any summer TBR.

Ali loves organizing and helping others clean up their spaces and lives but when it comes to her own she’s a hot mess. She lost her mom two years ago and has been in autopilot mom survival mode. Ali and husband have been separated for two years and he just officially asked for a divorce. That was the tipping point it’s time to get her act together and move forward.

Ethan has always had a bad reputation in his home town he moved away became a lawyer and has a new community that respects and looks up to him. So when his parents asked for him to come home he wasn’t thrilled. At home he’s known as Scooter and he wants to just be Ethan. Heinz wants everyone to see him for who he is now not who he was. Thats why he’ll never move home.

One lucky summer morning at the dog park when Ali’s dog pees on Ethan’s shoes sparks begin to fly. Ethan has had a crushed on Ali since he was a kid, she has always been a force but her light has dimmed. This summer he’s hoping to help her find that light again, but they are playing a dangerous game. Ethan doesn’t plan to stay in town and Ali has a life with her kids she can’t leave behind, are these two setting themselves up for heartbreak at the end of summer?

Literally Themes you’ll find:

* Best Friend’s Brother
* He Falls First
* Divorcee Single Mom
* Dog Meet Cute
* Self Discovery
* Champagne Summer
* Childhood Crush
* Single POV
* Closed Door

🐾🛶☀️🐾🛶☀️🐾🛶☀️🐾🛶☀️🐾🛶☀️🐾

Summer Romance is such a fantastic read! I was sucked in immediately thanks to Annabel Monaghan’s wonderful writing and the delightful characters she has created.
Ali Morris is a professional organizer but while she is great at helping others organize their spaces and thus their lives, hers is a mess. Her Mom died two years ago and exactly a year later, her husband of 13 years left her. Now, a year after that, she’s still wearing stained sweatpants out and is going through the motions of life instead of actually living, something her three kids have noticed. The day she finally decides to take off her wedding ring and put on real pants she meets Ethan at the dog park and thus begins the best romance of her life, though it can only last the summer.
I loved everything about this book. Ms. Monaghan has created characters with whom I would love to be friends. I loved the setting of the north shore of Longwood Island. I have never been there, but the descriptions of being able to see the NYC skyline and taking a boat to CT was so perfect, I felt like I was there. I am not one for water sports but this had me wanting to canoe and paddle board alongside Ali and her kids!
This book is the perfect summer read whether you’re at the beach or at home. Actually it’s a great pick me up any time during the year! Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an advanced copy of this. Summer Romance hit the shelves on June 4th.

This is such a lovely story and one that made my heart full.

Two years ago, Ali Morris lost her mom to Cancer and then a year later, her husband Pete left her. She’s been running on fumes until one day, everything changes when her dog pees on a cute man’s shoe at the dog park. That embarrassing, weird and ultimately wonderful thing turns her summer into one of rediscovery of self, of falling in love and of life changing circumstances.

Why can’t real life be more like this book? Not the sad parts that got Ali where she finds herself but what happens after?

The characters are amazing as is the town of Beechwood, NY which might be a character all on its own.

I love the way Ali still has conversations with her mom even though she’s gone. She’s still a guiding force and support system in her life and even though some of the conversations are tough, they feel true.

Ethan is a pure delight. His confidence, wit and care for others would make anyone want to befriend him and his backstory is relatable.

Everything that happened, while not real life (romance-wise), felt honest and sweet and good. Along with the theme of losing a parent and overcoming a difficult past, the topic of raising three children, including a teenager is addressed among others. There is plenty of seriousness along with a healthy dose of feel-good.

Summer Romance is the first book I’ve read by this author but it won’t be the last.

Thanks to the publisher through NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan
#NetGalley published 5/4

Ali has been separated for a year. She decides it's time to take off her wedding ring. And she decides to go to the dog park that she hasn't been to in a while. Then her dog decides he is going to pick out a man for her. LOL And they hit it off. She has decided she is up for a summer romance. But is that all it is going to be?

Her soon to be ex comes into play quite a bit. He is not the caricature the average romance ex is. He seems like a more normal type man with a big flaw.

This is definitely a romcom. The 2 dogs are comedic side kicks too. There are also some great lines in this book. There is no miscommunication in this book, THANKFULLY! AM does not use that in her books. That's why I like her so much.

#penquingroupputnum
#summerromance
#bookrecommendations

On the one-year anniversary of her mother's death, Ali is still grieving her loss when her husband, Pete, decides to tell her that he no longer wants to be married. One year later, despite being a professional organizer, her house remains full of clutter, and her life is in disarray. On the day she finally takes off her wedding ring, Ali takes her dog, Ferris, to the dog park, where he ends up peeing on the leg of a handsome stranger named Ethan.

Meeting Ethan awakens something in Ali after years of feeling unseen and undesirable. She starts wearing something other than elastic waistband pants and begins putting more effort into her appearance. As a single mom of three going through a divorce, she isn't looking to complicate her life but figures there's no harm in a little summer romance.

Annabel Monaghan has done it again and has become a favorite author of mine. Her books are the kind of romance I love to read, featuring mature characters with real-life issues. I rooted for Ali from the start, and Ethan—kind, funny, dog-loving, good with kids, and fun—was such a swoon-worthy MMC. Life can get messy and Annabel Monaghan portrays this realistically, making it easy to relate to the characters and the situations they face. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for the perfect beach read. 4.5 stars rounded up! 💫

This is the second book I've read from this author, and neither have disappointed! This book is about second chances in life, both in love and family relationships. They writing makes you feel for these characters immediately and you just feel like you might know them. Such an easy read to be drawn into!
*arc provided by netgalley for honest review

Summer Romance cemented Annabel Monaghan as an auto-read author - her characters are all interesting and well-developed. In Summer Romance, Ali is divorcing her husband and grieving the loss of her mother while parenting three kids and trying to bring her career organizing skills to her own home. In comes Ethan, a former town slacker who came into his own when he found his place out of town. From there, Monaghan delivers a sweet, realistic, gentle romance. The third act breakup and resolution didn't work for me as well as I'd hoped, but I was still very happy and giddy reading this book.

Really really cute. I was really hoping for some spice but this one stayed closed door. I think a lot of readers will appreciate the more sweet romance.

I loved this! While it was a good romance I also loved seeing the FMC through her divorce and figuring out how to be a single mom. So relatable and the older characters were great. Well written, made me cry more than once!

This book gave me so much hope and warm fuzzy feelings. Annabel Monaghan writes the best character-centric and REALISTIC love stories. I adore Ali and Ethan so much.

Summer Romance is the latest release from Annabel Monaghan and yet another winner from this author. This gripping summer story is heart-warming, emotionally impactful, humorous, and a new favorite. Summer Romance is a story that has substance, romance, and authentic, relatable life issues. Monaghan offers likable characters who are a bit older than what you find in your average rom-com, which provides a unique perspective and is utterly refreshing. She has crafted characters whom you will cheer for and who will move you.

In Summer Romance, we follow Ali Morris, mother of three children, who has suffered some significant losses in life, including the death of her mother, who was her best friend, and then her husband, who chose to walk out on her rather than provide the comfort she so desperately needed. In fact, Ali used to possess a positive energy, ambition and effervescence towards life, and then relinquished her needs and her voice when she got married and had children. Her husband leaned into this and showed his self-centeredness and demeaning manner towards his wife and Ali allowed it. So though his behavior and the demise of their marriage didn’t come as a surprise, the missing companionship and camaraderie of having a partner to share life with soon becomes evident. Ali also realizes that she has lost her own self-assertiveness, failing to stand-up for herself, and setting the kind of example she wants for her children.

Amidst all of this, Ali decides it’s time to move forward, to get dressed, get out and take her dog for a walk at the dog park. When her dog serendipitously heads straight for a cute stranger and pees on foot, Ali has an embarrassing meet-cute. When she later realizes she actually knows this stranger from years ago, something is set in motion that will change the trajectory of her summer, and perhaps her life.

This story is a quick read with a fully fleshed out story. It feels authentic and insightful while also being amusing and entertaining. The writing style is clear and consumable and the plot is engaging and heart-warming with a powerful message. Summer Romance is a feel-good, fast-paced story that you won’t want to end and will leave you with a smile on your face.

What a beautiful story! I loved spending time with Ali and Ethan! Their story was swoony and romantic and full of chemistry and tension, but, for those who don't like all the details...this book is fade-to-black so you can enjoy all the swoon without the spice. I myself am a fan of spice, but with this story I didn't mind the closed-door aspect. This book also felt especially poignant for me because I was losing a loved one to cancer as I was reading it. Ali's relationship with her mom throughout her life, her grief over losing her to cancer, and the ways she stayed connected to her mother after losing her really resonated with me. Days after finishing this book I lost my sister (and best friend) to cancer, and remembering Ali's story and her own grief journey has been a tiny bit of balm for my soul.
This was my first Annabel Monaghan book but I will definitely be reading more.
Readers can expect:
- forced proximity
- friends to lovers
- Family dynamics following divorce
- cozy small-town vibes
- fade-to-black
- self-exploration

Content warnings: Loss of parent to cancer, loss of friend to natural causes, challenging family dynamics

4.5 stars
This book made me laugh and cry. There were deeper themes of grief and depression but handled in a way that didn’t feel too heavy. It was a heartfelt romance and also about finding yourself after realizing that you are lost. Very relatable and tender. The scenery was beautiful and perfect for a quick summer read. Closed door romance.

#netgalley #summerromance
ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Penguin Group/Putnam Books for the eARC.

Loved this read so much. It was delightful and such a wonderful read to kick off the summer. It was well written and had me swooning the entire time. So grateful for the opportunity to read early in NetGalley.